History on certain devotions/traditions?

[Militant_Ellen]

I went to parochial grade school and we had the Sisters of Mercy.(Dobbs Ferry,NY)We were taught very young to reverence the name of our Lord by bowing our head every time the Lords name was mentioned.(as opposed to bending at the knee-constantly)
Can anyone tell me the origin of this devotion/tradition,
(Sometimes at mass I look as though I have Parkinson’s-I don’t mind-and I will continue this very minor devotion,I’d just like to know some origin info)
We were also taught to recognize the presence of our Lord in the tabernacle’s of other catholic churches by making the sign of the cross as we passed by,any info??Thanks!

 

[Rawb]

Bowing your head at the Name of the Lord is a reference to the Scripture verses that say (paraphrased) “every knee will bend and every head shall bow at the Name of the Lord” and “He recieved a Name above all Names”

I too cross myself when I pass a Catholic Church, and if I have a hat I tip it. I think it stems from the time when you would always make a ‘visit’, that is, step into the Church for a moment and pray if you passed. That evolved into just making a note of Christ’s True Presence in the Tabernacle.

 

[yinekka]

Here in Australia at one time Catholics used to bow their head when they said the name of Jesus, make the sign of the Cross and say a short aspiration - e.g. Jesus I love You - when passing a church if they couldn’t go in a make a visit, make the sign of the Cross and say a prayer for the Holy Souls when they passed a cemetery, make the sign of the Cross and say a short prayer for the person in the ambulance passing.

These little things are not essential but they were a way, along with the angelus at noon or saying an aspiration every hour - May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart pray for us - of bringing Christ into our everyday lives and not just remembering we were christians on Sunday. I lament their passing; I am the only person I know who does these things.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

Bowing the head at the name of Jesus became automatic for us. And we didn’t use the name Jesus much except in prayer. I remember mostly referring to Him as Christ. So when we would get into a discussion with Protestants who would keep saying Jesus we would keep nodding and they would think we were agreeing with them.

 

[Militant_Ellen]

I feel very blessed that I had these Sisters.My basic “faith formation”,came just before all the “Kumbya’s”.I still can’t hear any kind of siren without praying for the men going to someones rescue.I too sometimes feel alone in these very small practices but they are a part of my every day life and I pray about my
motives with false pride.(I’m careful to not nod too much in the presence of those who don’t understand-it’s strictly for the Lord)
The Sisters were wonderful and that particular order also liked to sing and dance! So I’m a singing and dancing ,nodding ,genuflecting and sign of the cross catholic.
I am learning alot about our faith that I’ve either forgotten or never learned and the History/Origins-(after reading about the church fathers)interests me .Thank you for your help.

 

[NeedImprovement]

Bowing the head at the name of Jesus became automatic for us. And we didn’t use the name Jesus much except in prayer. I remember mostly referring to Him as Christ. So when we would get into a discussion with Protestants who would keep saying Jesus we would keep nodding and they would think we were agreeing with them.

Thanks Claire from DE…that made me laugh.

There are some really beautiful expressions of respect or of our faith that we hardly see anymore. My dad is 80 now. He spent his whole career in the Armed Forces. Anytime he was in uniform, either walking down the sidewalk, or anywhere in public, if he passed a priest wearing a collar or a nun wearing the habit, he would salute them.

 

[yinekka]

Ellen I too have the sisters to thank and of course my grandmother. She used to look after us while my mother was at work and we never left the house without saying a prayer and we always went into any Catholic church we passed “to say hullo to Jesus.” The sisters I have to thank are the Mercys (RSM) and the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (FDNSC). Sadly both of those orders have given up the habit and the schools.